The Royal Calcutta Turf Club Trophy, a terms race for three year olds, featured an ordinary card of eight events framed for Friday’s action at Bangalore. It was unusual to see this sprint attract only five runners. Even though there are a number of speedy three year olds stationed at this centre, it was difficult to comprehend why most of them decided to give this race a “miss”. Based on their relative ratings and current form, Cristoffe and Valerian were suited by the terms of this race. The stable-mates were blessed with a lot of speed and trainer Dhariwal had ensured that both of them were partnered by talented riders. Valerian had made an impressive debut in January this year and given evidence of being a top class horse. However, his form seemed to have tapered-off in the next few starts. In his only run this season, Valerian had been beaten into second place by Wings Of Fortune. On the other hand, Cristoffe’s good third behind Light Of Success and Wind Wonder was more suggestive. After Light Of Success made light of her winning penalty and won a race earlier in the day, it was clear that Cristoffe was sure to perform well in the day’s feature. The bookmakers held a similar view, as both Valerian and Cristoffe shared favouritism. Natural View was the other one considered by the punters. 

Making use of his innermost draw, Valerian hugged the false rails and moved ahead of Strombolite, Cristoffe and Natural View. He maintained his firm hold over the proceedings and was a couple of lengths clear of the others, as they turned for home. While PS Chouhan continued to urge Valerian in front, the one’s at the back came under pressure. With Beuzelin urging him, Cristoffe made up a bit of ground to move into second near the two furlong marker, but that was all he could manage. Once Chouhan pulled out his whip on Valerian, the race was over. He increased the margin of his victory over a late finishing Natural View, Strombolite and a tired Cristoffe. As they approached the finishing line, an improving Hidden Hero almost managed to beat Cristoffe into last place. Now that Valerian has re-discovered his old form, one can expect him to climb up the ladder. Those who were confused after Cristoffe’s poor performance were told that the colt had lost a shoe at the bend and was totally uncomfortable after the said incident. 

Trainer Darius Byramji and his retained rider Imran Chisty enjoyed a glorious afternoon on Friday, when the pair went on to win three out of the eight races held at Bangalore. While a pair of three year olds named Whimsical and Frankness were strongly fancied by the stable, Clever Trick sprung a minor surprise on the connections. After a few ordinary runs against better maidens, Whimsical found herself being rated in the lowest category. Realizing her ability to “stay”, Darius waited for an opportunity to run Whimsical over a mile. Even though she was saddled with a back-breaking weight, her ten opponents looked quite “ordinary”. According to most track reporters, Whimsical was an outstanding bet in this set. After Mister Grey and Byronic did the hard work during the first half of this race, it was left to Oriental King to lead them into the straight. With Imran Chisty and Whimsical still a few lengths back in sixth, the race seemed to be headed for an upset. The runners began to bunch up near the distance post. It was hereabouts that Whimsical made some sort of a move. She appeared on the wide outside and skipped clear of the rest. Glamour Boy rallied late to gain the second spot ahead of Oriental King, Nations Glory and Mister Grey. The four of them actually finished within whispering distance of each other. As regards the winner, it is difficult to visualize Whimsical winning another race in the near future. 

A number of three year olds had accepted to run in a seven furlong handicap for those in class IV. Winners like Mantra and One Of A Kind were seen conceding chunks of weight to Indication, Frankness and Viktor. While Indication had run second to Circle Of Life at Pune, and Frankness had done the same behind a highly regarded Artorious last winter, the favourite in this race happened to be Viktor. It was rumoured that this horse had done some exceptional work and was fancied ahead of stable-mate Mantra by the Arjun Mangalorkar camp.  A look at him in the parade ring confirmed that the chestnut colt was still a bit soft , and it was possible that he would perhaps need this run before giving his best. The race saw Srinath and Indication showing the way to Tiger Eyes, Viktor, Frankness and Mantra. The five of them were huddled together as they swung for home. Indication managed to establish a clear lead over the others as they entered the final furlong. While the rest got tired, it was Frankness that was seen getting stronger. She covered quick ground to come alongside Indication. With Imran Chisty making free use of his whip, Frankness went ahead with each subsequent stride and added another point to Darius Byramji’s tally. Viktor got up on the last stride to beat Mantra into fourth place. With today’s experience under his belt, Viktor will be too-good-to-miss in his next start. It may not be out of place to suggest that he is destined to race in future amongst  higher class horses. 

The upper division of The Smt Satyavathi V Char Memorial Cup was the third race won by a filly from Darius’s yard. The four year old filly Clever Trick had flopped as a short priced favourite about a month ago. Running over a sprint, she had apparently burst a blood-vessel to finish a long way fifth behind Salsa Touch and Better Than Ever. That run was so poor, that even the die-hard fans of this stable decided to stay away from her. The odds against Clever Trick climbed from 3/1 to 7/1, as the runners started to enter the gates. Imran Chisty adopted slightly different tactics today. Instead of holding her back in the initial stages of this race, he allowed Clever Trick to go to the front. The filly enjoyed her freedom in front and raced well within herself to lead from Anonymous, Supreme and the favourite Igah Igah Igah. The backers of the favourite were hoping for Clever Trick to get tired in the straight, but that never happened. She kicked further and romped home to a pretty facile victory. Igah Igah Igah could do no better than finish a tame second ahead of Supreme and a heavily whipped Gun Salute. This was the second time in succession that Igah Igah Igah had taken down a lot of money. Trainer Prithviraj may do well by running her at a low weight in the next category, as she seems to be a bit uncomfortable under a heavy impost. 

The lower division of the above mentioned race happened to be the day’s opener. This race had an outstanding runner in Suleiman Attaollahi’s Cocktail Circuit. The quality of the opposition was so poor that it was difficult to nominate a second choice behind her. Even though the price on her more than doubled at race time, most punters chose to retain their faith in the favourite. While the filly was being ridden by Frenchman Beuzelin, the others were seen being partnered by some fairly ordinary riders. Beuzelin had opened his account in India with a win at Mahalakshmi on Thursday. Cocktail Circuit presented him with a great opportunity to do the same at Bangalore today. The youngster seized it with both hands while steering the filly to an easy victory. Leading from the word “go”, the pair darted to the front and showed the way to Mountain Beauty and Carducci. With the others choosing to stay at the back, the order remained the same till the very end. The only one that gave an impression of some success in the coming months was Mountain Beauty. She improved in the straight to finish a fair second. 

Last outing winner Light Of Success put up another pleasing performance while romping home to an easy victory in a sprint reserved for horses rated 60 and over. Dominic trained Solitaire Royale was a firm favourite in this event. His effortless victory at Mysore in October had earned him promotion to the present category. On the other hand, Light Of Success was carrying a winning penalty, and there were many who felt that this filly would find it tough to beat the favourite. The race was run at a fairly fast pace. Light Of Success did her customary front-running and showed the way to Mr Carpe , Smithsonite and Hillsboro. It was a bit strange to see Solitaire Royale struggling at the back. Despite PS Chouhan’s urgings, he was refusing to move forward. Those who had backed him were quick to realize that their money was gone. Light Of Success continued her good work in front and went on to keep Smithsonite and Hillsboro at bay. Solitaire Royale started to gallop when the race was more or less over. He made up some ground in the final hundred metres and ended a close fourth at the finish. This run of Solitaire Royale is sure to help his cause, and the talented horse can be expected to recover the losses that were incurred on him today. 

A class IV scurry witnessed the eclipse of the shortest priced favourite on Friday. Arjun Mangalorkar’s speedy customer Smokey Sid cornered all round support amongst a group of a dozen acceptors. This colt was known to possess a lot of speed, and the two kilos claimed by apprentice Mudassar was an added advantage. Smokey Sid darted out of his inner draw and seized the initiative ahead of Cash My Way. The pair went at a really strong gallop and opened up a huge advantage over the other ten, as they approached the final bend. It was hereabouts that Smokey Sid quickened further. He managed to shake-off Cash My Way briefly and enjoyed a two length lead as they entered the final furlong. However, he soon felt the pressure and started to shorten his strides. In a matter of seconds, the others began to gain on him. Inayathulla’s Cash My Way moved the best of the lot and got up in time to nail Smokey Sid near the finishing line. Apprentice Vishwanath’s perseverance with the winner paid rich dividends for Cash My Way’s connections. Super Saloni and Youre Rocking were also close behind the first two finishers, as the four of them flashed past the winning post. 

Rank outsider Abnoba shocked the followers of form by storming home to an easy victory in the last race of the afternoon. After a string of dismal failures, the connections of this six year old had put her up for auction. Trainer Md Khan had bought her in the ring and given her a run exactly six days ago. Since she had finished off the board that day, there weren’t many who gave her a chance to improve on that performance. She was accordingly available at 40/1 with the bookmakers today. Abnoba tracked the front-running group of Scenic Blast, Optimus Zone, Magic Wave and Living Legend till the bend, before making her move in the straight. Responding gamely to apprentice Ajeet Kumar’s urgings, she moved strongly through the middle and galloped away for an impressive victory. Living Legend rallied late to take the second spot ahead of Atlas Power and Mi Amor. The last named was doing some good work at the end, and since today’s trip was definitely short for her, Mi Amor can be expected to pick up an age group race in the very near future.